Industrial - Bachelor

ELEVATE

ELEVATE is a high-tech, human-centred wearable designed to support healthcare professionals’ mental wellbeing. Using a singular advanced PPG sensor, a series of reactive LED lights, and two adaptable wear options, ELEVATE provides real-time physiological insights. It promotes awareness, reduces negative stigma, and enhances workers wellbeing through data-driven feedback and thoughtful ergonomic design for the demanding healthcare environment.

Nathan Leo

The problem

Mental Health is a pillar of our lives as humans and is sometimes overlooked as being less important than one’s physical health. They give someone a sense of purpose, social status, emotional strength and an overall sense of control and understanding of someone’s internal and external functioning. Some people overlook their mental health and feel as though they don’t need help, solidifying the already existing negative stigma surrounding the topic.

85% of the population are affected by ill mental health and this is largely covered by professions like nurses, physicians and other health care workers. However, these people aren’t always inclined to look after themselves. They are affected by loss of sleep, poor physical health, reduced happiness, poor external relationships. Of this population of health care professionals, 76% of this population believe that their employer isn’t doing enough in the workplace to support them with their mental struggles and this issue still remains unattended.

“85% of Australians struggle with an ill mental health”.

Hert – 2020
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VIEW MY RESEARCH REPORT HERE
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application
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The process

A consistent element throughout the process was the ability to switch between sketching, prototyping, 3D modelling and then back to sketching again. In doing this it allowed for a deeper understanding in how the design will create awareness, reduce stigma, and enhance workers wellbeing through data-driven feedback and thoughtful ergonomic design. This process was crucial in being able to provide a quality product that meet the needed criteria resulting in quality outcomes that positively those in the health care sector.

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VIEW MY DESIGN DEVELOPMENT RECORD AND PROCESS HERE
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tHE RESULT

ELEVATE WRIST WEARABLE

With the use of technologies such as PPG sensors, independently reactive LED lights and innovative securing methods, ELEVATE creates an all in one multi form wearable device that captures data leading to data driven outcomes. This not only enhances the working experience but also breaks down barriers and navigates the negative stigma surrounding the topic of mental health.

TECHNOLOGY

ELEVATE offers insights into health care professionals through accurate readings through reflective 18 path photoplethysmogram sensors. This non invasive complex sensor tracks variability in ones heart rate by measuring the blood volume within the body which directly corresponds to pulsing of the heart.

REACTIVE LIGHTING

Paired with the high tech 18 path photoplethysmogram sensors are a series of LED illuminated beads. Reacting to detected heart rate these beads change colour based upon physiological changes. With colours of yellow, blue, red, green and grey all showing individual meaning it acts as a visual indication of how health care professionals are operating at any given moment.

MULTI WEARABLE SOLUTIONS

Being built to fit multiple users, ELEVATE features two separate wearable methods. The first being a bead wrist wearable made a combination of stainless steel components aswell as medical grade polypropylene. A secondary choice includes the addition of an injection moulded polypropylene plastic shell housing with attached rear body patch. Application of the patch is quick and user friendly with the patch being made from silicone for maximum comfort and an additional acrylic coating on the outside for maximum adhesion. For adjustment between wearable types and size an additional clasp bead is added to the link with magnetic opening and closing.

DATA DRIVEN FEEDBACK

Data is gathered by the PPG sensor and the reactive LED beads and this information is translated into an application. This application gathers data surrounding heart rate variability, maximum heart rate bpm, alerts from stressful situations and consistency seen in the specific colour sectors. Separating the data will be different hospital departments allowing for accurate comparison between efficiency and workers wellbeing when working in the chosen departments. Data allows for insights for team leaders to adjust schedules according to performance in selected areas, reach out to health professionals that require assistance or to monitor effectiveness of the scheduled roster. Not only is this information shared with team leaders the health professionals themselves will have access to this information to change schedules themselves, reflect on performances or clients from the shift or start an informal conversation with other members of the rostered team. The flexibility of this application allows promoted awareness, reduced negative stigma and an enhances worker wellbeing.

SCALABILITY IN DESIGN

For appropriate design for scalability in the medical industry, first a product must meet a set of standards and requirements. Products implemented into the medical industry need to pass through a small scale clinical testing period. Individual pod bases are used to meet necessary clinical testing requirements or to introduce the product on a small scale using usb-c charging connection on the base plates. To increase the products scalability, snap in bases for larger units can be implemented to allow for charging of multiple pods at once using slide in pin connectors attached to the same base plate.

PROJECT VIDEO

Nathan Leo

Nathan is a designer passionate about developing human-centred solutions to real-world challenges. Having strong skills in 3D modelling and prototyping he creates purposeful, meaningful solutions to benefit society and support sustainability. His work reflects a commitment to meaningful innovation and quality outcomes that positively impact people.